Met says hat, coat and brolly weather to come
Met says hat, coat and brolly weather to comeThe temperature in Thailand is expected to drop on Tuesday, indicating the arrival of the cool season. From Tuesday, a moderate to strong cool front from the north will sweep through the upper part of the country, accompanied by strong winds. After that the temperature will start to drop, marking the arrival of the cool season around Thursday. People in the southern region should brace themselves for heavy rainfall and strong waves, the agency warned. According to the department, this year's cool season will arrive late, about two weeks later than usual.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 13, 2023 04:04 UTC
Djokovic top of the world after sinking Rune at ATP Finals
Djokovic top of the world after sinking Rune at ATP FinalsNovak Djokovic is guaranteed to be world number one at the end of 2023. TURIN (ITALY) - Novak Djokovic will finish the year as world number one for a record-extending eighth time after beating Holger Rune 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in his opening match at the ATP Finals on Sunday. Djokovic, on a run of 19 straight wins, has had an age-defying year, winning three Slams to become the all-time record winner of major titles. The 36-year-old came into the Finals in Turin off the back of his seventh triumph at the Paris Masters, his 40th victory at a Masters 100 event. On Monday Alcaraz makes his ATP Finals debut in the Red Group against Alexander Zverev, the second seed Djokovic's closest challenger.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 13, 2023 02:34 UTC
Govt hits back at cash scheme slurs
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, followed by Bank of Thailand governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, right, enters a meeting, which he chairs on the 10,000-baht digital wallet handout scheme at Government House last month. The government said it would seek to pass a bill allowing it to borrow 500 billion baht to fund the scheme. However, Ms Sirikanya said she thought authorities would find the bill unconstitutional and contrary to financial and budgetary discipline law. The money which will be injected through the handout scheme will be distributed fairly to the grassroots, not to certain groups as some sides claimed, Mr Danuporn said. Somkit Didaeng, 56, a bamboo shoot seller in the province, said she didn't like the fact that the digital money can't be used to repay a debt.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 12, 2023 16:48 UTC
Israeli films Thai worker's Isan funeral after movie script comes true
Israeli films Thai worker's Isan funeral after movie script comes trueJonatan, an Israeli filmmaker, at the funeral of Settha Homesorn, a Thai worker killed in Israel, at Settha's home village in Muang district, Nakhon Phanom province. The Thai worker, Settha Homesorn, 36, was one of 39 Thais confirmed killed in the Hamas attack. On Saturday, an Israeli man who identified himself as Jonatan, 30, arrived at the funeral, to the surprise of the local people. Through an interpreter, Mr Jonatan said he is the producer of a short film featuring the lives of Thai workers who work in agricultural farms in the area near the Gaza Strip. The Israeli filmmaker said he was very sad, but in order to complete the film, he came to Thailand to film Settha's funeral.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 12, 2023 06:49 UTC
Thais devoted to mobile
Thais continue to embrace mobile devices to manage the cost of living and increase revenue, while some are optimistic about generative artificial intelligence (AI), according to a Telenor Asia study. Thais are upbeat on the use of mobile devices as they have one of the best mobile networks in the region and affordable prices, said Petter-Børre Furberg, executive vice-president and head of Telenor Asia, citing the company's Digital Lives Decoded study. Amid an inflationary environment, Thais are also using their mobile devices to manage rising costs of living, noted the study. An overwhelming 93% use their mobile devices for banking or financial management weekly, and 55% are making investments online to create new revenue streams. Despite their love of mobile devices, Thais were the least concerned about privacy and security on their phone.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2023 21:14 UTC
Van driver did not drug and rape girl: police
Van driver did not drug and rape girl: policeKHON KAEN: An investigation found an allegation made by the family of a 13-year-old girl, accusing a van driver of drugging and raping her, was groundless. Police said on Friday that the girl was not drugged and raped by the van driver, whose name was withheld. On Monday, the van driver surrendered to Waeng Noi police in Khon Kaen, insisting on his innocence. The family filed a complaint with the police against the van driver on Nov 3 after seeing the victim's behaviour change on Oct 31 when she met the same driver. "The girl admitted to investigators that nothing happened," said Pol Maj Gen Anuwat.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2023 17:42 UTC
'Too early to judge govt': DPM
'Too early to judge govt': DPMPhumtham: '100 is the magic number'Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai hit back at criticism that the government's first 60 days in office had seen little improvement in the economy or helped reduce the cost of living. We will provide a full update on our work and plans when we have completed 100 days in office," he said. Asked if the prime minister preferred to work alone rather than delegate duties, Mr Phumtham said the prime minister has already assigned a full set of responsibilities to his six deputies. When asked about comments made by opposition parties, Mr Phumtham shrugged of the criticism as predictable. On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Srettha hosted a television special titled "From Policy to Action in 60 Days".
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2023 12:28 UTC
When a deal dive, dive, dives
Many critics are also questioning if Pheu Thai and its key figures directly involved in driving the policy understand what soft power represents. Defending the government's soft power policy, Ms Paetongtarn on Tuesday explained what the government has been doing to develop and harness the country's soft power. In essence, it has studied how South Korea and the US have built soft power and mastered its use. In her attempt to give people a rough idea about soft power, the Pheu Thai leader picked a mint-choc drink, her favourite beverage, as an example. Somehow, Ms Paetongtarn's remark led some people to understand that mint-choc drinks might also be promoted as soft power.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2023 01:26 UTC
Thai Airways posts fourth-straight profit
Thai Airways posts fourth-straight profitThai Airways International aircraft at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan province on Sept 26, 2023. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) reported a fourth-straight quarterly profit as passenger numbers continued to improve in the wake of the coronavirus disease (Covid), with extra impetus coming from travellers from China. Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI Chairman of the Plan Administrators, is speaking at a press briefing in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo: THAI)The national carrier's operating profit before finance cost and one-time items surged 97% last quarter to 7.72 billion baht. THAI is now in the process of rebuilding its operations, with about 65 aircraft in its fleet, compared with 103 pre-pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2023 00:58 UTC
Consumer confidence reaches highest mark in 44 months
Consumer confidence reaches highest mark in 44 monthsPeople shop for goods at Wang Lang market near Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on Sept 11. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) reported on Thursday the consumer confidence index rose to 60.2 in October, up from 58.7 in September, 56.9 in August and 55.6 in July. This scenario could hinder a recovery of the global economy, potentially leading to an economic downturn, he said. In a related development, the university also released the TCC Confidence Index, which gauges the sentiment of the business sector and chamber members in every province. The business sector views the government's stimulus policies as insufficient, leading to an unclear stimulus picture, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 10, 2023 04:20 UTC
Yingluck malfeasance ruling postponed to Nov 29
(Bangkok Post file photo)The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions has postponed until Nov 29 the reading of its decision on an abuse of power case against fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Winyat Chartmontree and Norawich Laelaeng, Yingluck’s lawyers, appeared at the Criminal Court to hear the ruling, only to be told that it had been postponed to Nov 29 at 1.30pm. Mr Thawil filed a petition with the Supreme Administrative Court, arguing the transfer order was illegitimate. The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled that Yingluck had illegally interfered in the transfer of government officials. Yingluck cried foul over the warrant, saying she had been the victim of relentless persecution in the Thawil case.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 10, 2023 02:08 UTC
Visa exemptions yet to make a splash
Visa exemptions yet to make a splashPassengers make their way through Satellite 1 terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Despite the offer of visa exemptions, the Chinese, Taiwanese and Indian markets have yet to record a quick recovery because of several economic factors, say tourism operators. Taiwanese were granted a visa exemption from Nov 10, which he said should facilitate arrivals from this market, which has grown following the pandemic. The Taiwanese government requested a visa exemption for some time as there were around 2,000 Taiwanese tourists applying for visas to Thailand daily, said Mr Thanet. The impact from the visa exemptions might be more evident during the second quarter next year as more corporations and tourists opt for Thailand then because of this entry privilege, said Ms Prachoom.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 09, 2023 18:08 UTC
Airports prepare to implement visa-free policy
Airports prepare to implement visa-free policyPassengers from China were greeted on arrival by officials at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sept 25. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The government has set up a command centre to welcome tourists from India and Taiwan under the visa-free entry policy that will begin on Friday. He said the Airports of Thailand (AOT) has been instructed to work closely with various agencies, including immigration authorities to streamline the process and prevent overcrowding. The visa-free policy for tourists from India and Taiwan will be implemented from Friday until May 10 as part of the plan to stimulate tourism and the economy, he said. Since Jan 1, the number of foreign tourists has exceeded 22.61 million, generating about 954.23 billion baht in tourism revenue.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 09, 2023 16:36 UTC
Council optimistic on export outlook
Council optimistic on export outlookA container is loaded at the Port Authority of Thailand. Chaichan Chareonsuk, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC), said with export growth posted in August and September, and shippers indicating continuing orders for the final three months of the year, the council is confident that export performance in 2023 will not contract significantly. Exports are estimated to increase by up to 7% year-on-year in the final quarter, said Mr Chaichan. “The TNSC is maintaining the export target for this year at -1.5%, as of November,” he said. There are no signs of an export slowdown, nor issues with container shortages, said Mr Chaichan.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 08, 2023 12:29 UTC
Analysts consider deflation risks
(Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Analysts are expressing concerns about Thailand's first year-on-year decline in inflation in 25 months, saying the dip in the consumer price index (CPI) reflects growing risks of an economic slowdown and deflation. "Recent inflation data fell below our expectations, indicating the Thai economic recovery, apart from the tourism sector, remains weak," said BofA. "Thai inflation is considered low compared with other countries in the region, and remained below the target of 2% for six consecutive months," KS said in a report. The think tank maintained its GDP growth forecast for 2023 at 3% on healthy exports in the final quarter. Though K-Research has not made a forecast for 2024 growth, the centre projects expansion in a range of 3-4%, she said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 08, 2023 11:31 UTC